Staff
Every staff member at Formando Vidas is a volunteer working from the heart. In the end, God always supplies somehow. Some of the staff are old and some are young. Each are united by the common cause of helping change the spiritual and economic landscape of Bogotá, Colombia. Some staff members even go on to start their own ministries in other countries. We are amazed by the number of kids God has allowed Formando Vidas to reach.
Steve talks about the staff at Formando Vidas
Steve & Evie BARTEL
Steve and Evie have pioneered and led almost all of the seven stages, though the most costly emotional investment has been the one of long term re-parenting. Since 1985, their family home has housed street children, usually between 8 and 12 kids at a time, from tiny infants to teenagers, living with their own five children as well. Steve is now called “Papito Stevan” (little dad Steve), and Evie is called “Mamita Evi” (little mom Evie). Since these children don’t have other families that care for them, Evie, especially, is considered “Mom” by over a hundred grateful “children” of all ages.
Carolina ACEVEDO
Carolina is a psychologist and her heart’s desire when she graduated from university was to serve and help dysfunctional families heal the wounds in their hearts. That’s why she has been serving in different functions with Formando Vidas ever since 2003. She has training in several areas that affect children and families, such as: abuse prevention, individual and family intervention, and psycopedagogy. Within the ministry, she does evaluations, interventions, and workshops for individuals and groups, keeping in mind the spiritual, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of each member of the family system. She has also helped capacitate the staff in several different topics. Carolina was the coordinator of Light and Life school for three years (2007-2010), after which she took on the role of coordinator for the “Families” team, the group that visits and disciples the families of the children we work with.
Among her dreams, Carolina desires to see families transformed by the power of God, being his instrument, in inner healing and restoration of the lives that God places in our path. She also hopes to further prepare herself in applicable topics of psychology, and to serve those in need, with God’s guidance and wisdom.
God has given her a family that consists of her husband, Vladimir, and their children: Valentina (12), Samuel (5), and Santiago, a beautiful eight-month-old boy. Her family is what motivates her in her work every day. In her free time, Carolina likes to spend time with friends and family, read, and cook. She thanks God for her life, for her family, and for letting her work in this ministry.
Annie BLAKESLEE
Annie Blakeslee was an ESL teacher in the US before coming to work with Light and Life School in the beginning of 2010. She completed her DTS in Costa Rica and later came to Colombia to participate in the Children At Risk school and join the Formando Vidas staff. These days, Annie works as the Academic Director of Light and Life school.
She’s enjoying the challenge of teaching reading in a new language and seeing improvements in her students in behavior and academics.
She’s enjoying the challenge of teaching reading in a new language and seeing improvements in her students in behavior and academics.
She currently lives in the community at Torre Fuerte, where you can find her reading and drinking tea in the time that she’s not busy working on lesson plans and tracking the achievements of her students. Her favorite juice is passion fruit, she has two crazy cats, and is an expert at eating with chopsticks.
Belén CAICEDO
This Colombian lady has a real servants heart, she likes to be where the action is right in the heart of the ministry. She has served in many areas over the years and is currently volunteering in the Other Way, helping with a group for teenage mothers. She has three children; her daughter, Sandra, also works with Formando Vidas. Belen is a prayer warrior, is very involved in her local church, and likes joking around.
Lilia CRUZ
This lady is very committed in her work at Light and Life school. A mother of two and a grandmother, she contributes a lot to the staff at Light and Life, and also in her church, where she is a Sunday School teacher. At the school she helps to cook and gives smiles to all the kids.
Lilia is a nurse and radiologist, and hopes to continue working with children in the future. Her hobbies include swimming, and she really likes practicing different sports, especially hiking.
Sandra DIAZ
This Colombian lady is the daughter of another staff member of Formando Vidas, Belén Caicedo. They became aware of this ministry for much longer, though, thanks to the work of God in their lives and the Bartels’ friendship and discipleship. Currently, Sandra helps as the administrative assistant in Light and Life school and at the main office. She also works with Evie Bartel in organizing, and distributing donations of clothing and other goods that the ministry receives, and in hospitality. It’s been two years since Sandra is officially part of the Formando Vidas’ team, and says that one of her favorite things about being a part of this ministry is seeing how God is always moving and working in unique ways.
Gonzalo GAMARRA
For the past three years, this Colombian volunteer has been helping at Light and Life School as one of our full-time teachers, and also as support staff of the Bible club at Cazuca. He has studied pre-school education, and currently lives in the community at Torre Fuerte.
Gonzalo hopes to do a DTS in January 2012, and afterward to continue working with Formando Vidas. He would like to be involved with the Oasis phase of the ministry after he completes his YWAM training. Please pray for him as the Lord leads you.
In his free time, Gonzalo likes to read Christian literature on a variety of subjects and watch movies, while drinking a bottomless cup of black coffee!
Clemencia GARCIA
For seven years Clemencia was the coordinator of the Kiwi House. These days she continues to be a foster mom to a ten-year-old girl. Clemen is also involved in the accounting department of the ministry, and helps Mary Hutton in Cazuca, sharing with a group of young mothers in a discipleship/parenting group.
This wise woman has a great sense of humor, and can often been found joking around with Alex (or making jokes at Alex’s expense). She also likes to read, and she plays a mean game of dominoes. She hopes to someday expand her ministry into conference speaking engagements.
Emily GARRETT
Emily is an American from North Carolina. Her story begins when she was ten years old and had a dream of taking care of abandoned kids… and now she works with us, fulfilling her dream coming true, even though everyday life is sometimes not that dreamlike!
She joined the staff in 2009, taking care of a little boy in 24-hour care and working at the Other Way. After doing her DTS in 2010, she now lives and works full time in Kiwi House. Emily helps with communications for the ministry and leads worship at team meetings. She likes baking, reading, starting (but not necessarily finishing) art projects, and working in the garden.
Mary HUTTON
This Australian grandmother of ten is a fresh breath of air to our ministry. She lives in a very poor slum in the south of Bogota. She works with over 400 children and young people in Bible and craft clubs, discipleship groups, and also mommy classes. She is a prayer warrior whose love and perseverance are making an impact with the gospel in this community. Mary loves reading, is the official mailbox-checker for the ministry, and always has a warm smile and a hug for everyone.
Peter JACAMINAJOY
Peter has grown up in this ministry, so he says he has been with YWAM for twenty years so far. He came to live in Formando Vidas when he was a small child, and is grateful for the changes that have occurred in his life and for his future generations.
He completed his DTS and Counseling schools with YWAM and currently helps at Light and Life school. He has a special relationship with the kids at the school and in Continuing Education, because they understand each other well and respect each other. Peter´s great passion is urban dance, which he teaches the children so that they will have fun, develop healthily, and learn to express themselves in a positive way with their peers and in society. He has studied dance and English, and hopes to use those talents to the glory of God, no matter where he goes. These days, his dreams are to do the School of Biblical Studies in Chile and to have a dance ministry some day. When he’s not dancing, exercising, or reading, Peter likes to sleep.
Ingrid LETENDRE
Ingrid Letendre joins our team from Alberta, Canada. This fun-loving lady is always laughing (and screaming) as she plays and jokes with the kids and staff. She spent 2009 with Formando Vidas, then returned to work in Canada before completing a DTS in Iquitos, Peru. Now she is back with us.
Ingie has missions experience in several countries, including Haiti, Honduras, and Mexico. This woman is passionate about God, youth and children’s work, snow, and ice hockey (go Oilers!). A licensed social worker, she has years’ experience working with families and family violence.
With Formando Vidas, she has fingers in a lot of pots, so to speak – working with the Families’ team, Light and Life school, helping in Friends’ Club (Cazucá), and in other areas as she can. Other than Jesus and hockey, she says that summer camp is pretty much the best thing ever.
Fabian MARTINEZ
Fabian is a Colombian man who grew up in this ministry. He is a living testimony of how God can transform your life if you let Him. He helps in the ministry in many ways and especially with the children of the Other Way and Light and Life School, with whom he can identify so well. He is currently studying Publicity in university and hopes to continue using his education, talents, and energy for the Lord.
We all enjoy having him around because he is really funny and likes to play jokes. He also enjoys playing soccer, going on missions trips, and drinking coffee.
Juan OSPINA
This Colombian young man grew up in the ministry, and has decided to continue his relationship with Formando Vidas by contributing his time as a staff member. Juan is very committed, working in the Other Way and also in accounting. He completed his DTS in Chile during 2009, and went to Brazil on outreach. He hopes to return to Chile and Brazil in the future to work more with the project he supported while there. His other dreams include studying economics, and he hopes to continue working with children and adolescents.
Juan enjoys watching movies and eating arequipe (caramel), preferably at the same time!
Sara OTIS
Sara Otis and her husband, Stephen, moved to Bogota in the summer of 2010 and she started working for the ministry in September. Sara works at The Other Way and The Light and Life school. She absolutely loves what she does and can see herself working in this capacity for the rest of her life. Formando Vidas is Sara’s first YWAM experience, but she attended a missions school for three years and is currently finishing her bachelors’ degree through Columbia International University. Sara and Stephen are also helping with publicity for the ministry. The Otises’ great passions consist of pursuing deeper intimacy and community among the church body, laughing, taking long walks on the beach and fried yucca chips… as well as very small long haired dogs or very large short haired dogs.
Carlos & Katrina PAEZ
Carlos and Katrina are a Colombian/New Zealand couple who have a passion for children. Katrina has worked in almost every area of the ministry since 1993 when she arrived from New Zealand. Carlos joined us in 2000 as he was dividing his time between his works as an environmental chemist for the Colombian government and volunteering with us translating and tutoring children in residential care.
They went to New Zealand as a family the first time in 2003 with their sons Alex and Simon to do a Family Discipleship Training School with YWAM in Matamata.
The family was later blessed wonderfully in Colombia with the birth of Gabriela in 2006.
Now as a family they are involved in the administrative and leadership of the ministry. They attempt to keep the ministry running smoothly legally and effectively. Their children keep them sane by giving them enjoyable reasons to leave the computer or meetings. Carlos spends his free time translating Christian books and Katrina wonders what free time is!
Alex PEÑA
This vibrant young Venezuelan man is the coordinator of the “Chamos” (Friends) House. Alex loves cooking, entertaining guests, and joking around with everyone! He has been with Formando Vidas since 1998, when he was nineteen and visiting Colombia. God spoke to him about working with street children. He accepted that challenge, and continues to live it today. He began by working in the “Friendship and Trust” stage of the ministry, then brought a group of kids into the “Oasis,” our 24-hour transition home. When the Oasis kids were ready, he continued with 12 of them into the re-parenting stage. It has been challenging to demonstrate the love of a father in their lives, but after several years, he has been able to see the fruits of what has been planted. One of those young people is now in missions himself, having completed YWAM training and staying on as staff at the base where he studied.
His dream is to become a chef, and he plans to enter culinary school this year (2011). The program he is enrolled in lasts four semesters, and God has blessed him with the financial resources for the first semester. Please join him in prayer for the remaining sum so that he can complete his degree.
Bibiana PEÑA
We have been very blessed to have this Latina woman of God as part of the team. Bibiana is from Venezuela, she came in early 2007 to attend the Children at Risk Training School. While there God confirmed her call to this ministry. Since September 2007, she is been the coordinator of the Kiwi House, where she experiences God’s love and teaching through working with the children. Bibiana also works with the children’s sponsorship program.
She shows lots of commitment and has a big welcoming heart to all. She loves to make arepas and has become a good cook! She is very hospitable and will open the door of her house every time with her beautiful smile!
Edwin PEÑA
This Venezuelan’s smile is the first thing you’ll notice upon meeting him. After completing a music DTS in Argentina in 2009, Edwin came to Colombia to participate in the Children at Risk school with Formando Vidas in 2010. Since January of 2011 he has been on staff with us, helping at the Other Way and the Jungle. He does a bit of everything, but his main focuses are maintenance work and leading activities with the kids at the Jungle.
Edwin, like his cousin Alex, wants to be a chef. He is currently studying and often makes us yummy snacks! His dream is to have a restaurant that can help finance ministries like Formando Vidas. Besides cooking, Edwin enjoys playing guitar, keyboard, and drums, as well as sports like mountain biking.
Rae Ann REYNA
Rae Ann joins us from Texas, where she grew up and earned a degree in bilingual education. She worked teaching life skills to teens at a homeless shelter, and also at a coffee shop (which was her favorite job ever!). Her church has a long-standing relationship with Formando Vidas but hadn’t made a trip for fifteen years, until 2010, when they asked Rae Ann to co-lead a group here. She immediately felt drawn to the ministry’s mission and vision. After the 12-day trip, she decided to come back long-term. Rae Ann has made an initial commitment of two years, during which time she hopes to work in whichever areas of the ministry she is needed, but plans to begin at Light and Life school.
When she became a Christian, Rae Ann felt called to missions, but her focus was on Africa, not South America. When she felt God telling her to improve her Spanish, she thought it was just to help with her education career in South Texas, where bilingual teachers are in high demand — she never dreamed that it was because He would call her to work in Latin America! Her life dreams include doing exactly what she is doing now, and getting married and having a family of her own. Her favorite things to do are read or watch movies while drinking coffee, dancing, and laughing.
Claudia RIVERA
This lady joined us from Mexico about a year and a half ago, but she has more than sixteen years of experience working with children, adolescents and women with various organizations and in different countries around the world. Currently she helps in Light and Life school, where she teaches art class and values, helps in different classrooms as needed, and works with a support group for teens.
Claudia studied Agricultural Engineering and has also completed several courses to capacitate her for working with children. In the future she hopes to continue helping new generations find purpose for their lives. She is single but has a lot of adoptive daughters, as well as eight houseplants. Besides working with children and young people, Claudia likes swimming, reading, watching movies, walking, window shopping, doing crafts, baking bread and desserts, decorating, listening to music, and taking care of her plants.
Ligia RIVEROS
Ligia is from Boyacá, Colombia, but has lived overseas for many years. During that time, she worked on behalf of children and the needy, which she hopes to continue doing for years to come wherever she can. She has been with Formando Vidas for a year and a half and has been helping at Light and Life school, giving art classes and working with the Continuing Education students.
Ligia is a Registered Nurse and has a graduate degree in Pediatric Nursing. For more than ten years she has used her talents to help children and teens around the world. Although she doesn’t have any biological children and is single, she has many spiritual sons and daughters. When she has time she likes to walk, watch movies, and read books. She is a public speaker and a very good knitter.
Ludivia TORIFIO
This lady from Bogotá has been with Formando Vidas for one year. She currently helps in the kitchen at Light and Life school, and is also involved with Continuing Education, where she prepares and carries out various activities with the young people. Before she worked with us, Ludivia helped in the YWAM Bogotá ministry “Rise and Shine,” where she helped the children with their homework. In 2009 she completed her DTS at the YWAM base in Leticia, Colombia.
Ludivia hopes to study psychology some day, with a specialization in working with at-risk children. In her free time she likes to read and she also loves playing basketball – look out, Michael Jordan!
Sonia VALENCIA
Sonia is a Colombian-trained teacher and Christian counselor. Since 1999 she has been caring for Diana Giselle, who will finish high school in 2011 and hopes to do her DTS afterward.
Sonia has been with the Street Children’s Ministry for approx. 18 years. In this time she has worked in all of the areas from Friendship & Trust to long-term care. She also serves in the general leadership of the ministry and is currently the administrative coordinator of Light and Life School. She enjoys teaching about at-risk children, and hopes to finish studying pastoral psychology. Sonia likes to read in her free time, and has a deep prayer life with the Lord. A dream that she and Diana have is to have a house of their own, as they currently live in the ministry office house. Sonia likes joking around and has an impressive collection of earrings.
